John 21:15-25 – The Eye Witnesses of Jesus’s Resurrection: He has risen Indeed Part 7

The Gospel of John, An eye witness account

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Comment: Here we find a conversation between Jesus and Peter. The last time Jesus had a conversation with Peter was when He told him that he was going to deny Him 3 times. Now, we find Jesus 3 times asking Peter if he loves Him and 3 times commanding him to feed my lambs, tend my sheep and feed my sheep. Jesus uses twice the greek word for love “agapao” and the last one “phileo”. Peter only answered 3 times with “phileo”. Both Agapao and Phileo means to love. There has been discussion as to why the three different love words and why Jesus asked three times. Simple answer is I don’t know. Jesus decided it was important to ask three times and in the manner he did. Maybe it had to do with Peter denying Him 3 times, I don’t know. What’s interesting is Peter’s last answer where he said “Lord you know everything, you know that I love you”. Here Peter confirms once more the deity of Jesus. Peter confirms that Jesus is indeed God because only God is all knowing.

After this Jesus prophesied about how Peter was going to be killed and after that, Jesus said he must follow him. Knowing that he was going to die, Peter must still follow him and Peter did follow him.

Message: Peter was not promised wealth, health and prosperity. He was promised death and yet was asked to follow Jesus and he did. These days we want to be promised wealth, health and prosperity before we can follow Jesus. Will you follow Jesus even when you know it will cost you your life?

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Comment: After being told how he was going die, Peter then turned and saw John following them, then he asked Jesus what about John. In other words, Peter asked Jesus if John was also going to die like him. Jesus rebuked him and said that if it was his will that he should not die, what is that to do with him, he must follow him. Of course this was totally misunderstood and rumors started to spread that John will not die. Then John indicates that he is the one who is bearing witness, an eye witness account, about these things that he has written since chapter 1 and we know that his testimony is true. This is very important that John said this because it means there were others that could have disputed what he has written but they did not because they know that what he has written is true.

John concludes rightfully that these are not the only things that Jesus did.

Message: If those that were there, could not dispute what John has written, how can we 2000 years later, dispute it?

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